Samuel douglass



(No Model.)

S. DOUGLASS.

. TREAD- POWER. No. 268,644.

Paten t ed Dec. 5, 1882.

ATTORNEYS;

. attached a large wheel, I, to receive a belt for UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL DOUGLASS, OF TEXAS, MICHIGAN.

TREAD-POWER.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,644, dated December 5, 1882.

Application filed May 15, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known thatI, SAMUEL DOUGLASS, of Texas, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigam have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tread-Powers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is a side elevation of my improvement, part being broken away. Fig.2 is a rear elevation of the same.

The object of thisinvention is, in common with others, to facilitate the regulating and controlling of tread-powers, and also to cause the said tread-powers to work more easily than. those constructed in the ordinary manner.

The nature of this invention consists of a supporting-framecarrying a movable platform, a shaft, a spur-wheel, and a weight-box having a chain and whiwetree.

It consists, further, in the combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

A represents the frame of the machine, to which is firmly secured an inclined platform, B.

To the frame A, at the upper end of the platform B, isjournaled a cylinder, C, around which and around the platform B passes an endless chain of small rollers, D. The rollers D are connected at their ends by links E, so that they will readily pass around the cylinder 0 and the lower end of the platform B.

Around the platform B, the cylinder 0, and the endless chain of rollers D passes an endless-chain platform, the bars F of which, at the lower sides of their ends, are attached to endless chains G. The links of the endless chains G engage with the spur-wheels H, attached to the ends of the cylinder 0, so that the said cylinder (J will be revolved by the movement of the endless platform F Gr. By this construction the endless platform F G will move very easily, so that nearlyall the power applied to the said platform will act upon the spur-wheels H to turn the cylinder 0.

To one of the journals of the cylinder 0 is driving any desired machinery. The bandwheel I is provided with a crank-pin, J, to which is' pivoted the end of a pitman, K, for

driving any machinery that requires a recipwhich is pivoted the end of a pitman, N, for

driving any machinery that requires to be driven with a reciprocating motion.

To the journal of the cylinder ll) is also attached an eccentric-wheel, O, with the eccentric-strap P of which is connected the lower end of a rod, Q, the upper end of which is connected by a keeper, R, or other suitable means, with a lever, S, so that the said lever will be vibrated by the revolution of the cylinder 0. The rear end of the lever S is pivoted to the rear upper corner of the frame A. By this construction the machine can be used for op erating a churn, a pump, or other machine that requires a vertical reciprocating motion.

To the upper parts of the rear posts of the frame A is journaled a shaft, T, upon the middle partof which is placed aloose spur-wheel, U.

Over the spur-wheel U is passed a chain, V, to the forward .end of which is attached a whiffletree, W, to be connected with the horse or other animal that operates the power.

To the rear end of the chain V is attached a box, X, to receive stones or other heavy substance to form a weight. \With this construction the animal that operates the machine is compelled to exert a draft-power to sustain the weight of the loaded box X, and thus made to operate the machine more effectively than if he operated the machine exclusively by his weight. By varying the loading of the box X the animal can be made to operate the machine with more or less power, as the machiucry to be driven may require, so that it will not be necessary to increase the inclination of l the platform FG to such an extent, when heavy machinery is to be driven, as to make it uncomfortable for the animal to travel.

The spur-wheel U canfbe made to carry the shaft '1 with it in its movement by a clutch, Y, which slides upon the said shaft and engages with the said'spur-wheel. i

Upon the hub of the clutch Y is formed an annular groove to receive the down wardl y-bent forked inner end of the rod Z, the outer end of which is pivoted to the lever a. The lever a is pivoted to the frame A in such a position that it can be readily reached and operated by an attendant to throw the spur-wheel U into and out of gear with the shaft '1.

Upon the end of the shalt T is formed, or to it is attached, a downwardly projecting crank-arm, b, the lower end of which has an outwardly-projecting pin formed upon or attached to it to enter a slot in the upper end of the lever c. The lever c is pivoted to the frame A and its lower end works in a slot in the upper edge of the bar d, or is otherwise pivoted to the said bar, so that the bar d will receive a longitudinal movement irom the vibration of the lever c. The.bar (1 slides in a keeper, 6, attached to the frame A, and to the side of its forward end is attached a brake-shoe,f, in

' such a. position as to be opposite the part of the face of the drive-wheel I with which the driving-belt is not in contact. With this construction, when the spur-wheel U is in gear with the shaft T, the descent of the weightbox X operates the lever c and brake-bar d, and applies the brake-shoe f to the wheel I, stopping the machine, supporting the said weight-box, and relieving the animal from the draft of the said box. When the spur-wheel U is thrown out of gear the draft ofthe weight box X comes upon the animal, and his resistance to the draft-strain starts the machineand compels him to keep traveling.

To the frame A, at or near the plane of the upper surface of the movable platform F G, are hingedthe edges of two boards, g, which are made of such a width that the free edges of the said boards 9, when turned down upon the said platform F Gr, will meet, and thus serve as a cover to protect the said platform from rain. When the boards 9 are turned up into a vertical position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, they serve as side casings to the frame A. The boards 9, when turned up into a vertical position, are secured in place by hooks h or other suitable means.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A tread-power constructed substantial y as herein shown and described, and consisting of the frame A, having platform'B, cylinder 0, and spur-wheels H, the endless chain of rollers I) E, and the endless platform F G, the weigh tbox X, having chain V and whifietree W, the spur-wheel U,.the crank-shaft T b, and the lever a, the brake-bar d, and the brake-shoe f, as set forth.

2. In a tread-power, the combination, with the frame A, carrying the movable platform F G, of the shaft T, the roller or spur-wheel U, the weight-box X, the chain V, and the whiffletree W, sultstantially as herein shown and described, whereby the animal that operates the machine is put under a draft-strain, and thus made to exert a greater power, as set forth.

3. In a tread-power, the combination, with the spur-Wheel U, carrying the weight-box X, and the shaft T, having crank b, and the drive wheel I, of the lever c, the brake-bar d, and the brake-shoef, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the brake will be applied by the gravity of the weight-box, as set forth.

SAMUEL DOUGLASS.

Witnesses:

OHAUNoEY STRONG, W. A. FORBES. 

